Baggage-chegk



H. A. DERAISMES. BAGGAGE CHECK.

No. 870,456. Patented Sept. 27, 1887.

' provide a locking baggage-check which,while illustrate: one of these lock-checks marked UNITED STATES PATENT Orrrcn.

- HIPPOLITE A. DERAISMES, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY.

BAGGAG E-CHECK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 370,455, dated September 27, 1887.

Application filed August 14, 1886.

To aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, 'HIPPOLITE A. DE- RAISMES, of Elizabeth, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Baggage-Checks, of which the following is a specification.

The present invent-ion relates to improvements upon the baggage-checks described in Letters Patent No. 193,441, granted me July 24, 1877, in which the check was provided with a lock permanently attached thereto, and by which it could be locked to the baggage, and could be released therefrom only by the use of the unlocking-key, which was to be in the possession of the passenger or his agent. Such checks, by reason of their permanent or in separable connection with their locks, are very limited in their use. The inscription upon such checks, which furnishes theinstructions or directions for the disposition of the baggage, cannot practically be changed. To

New York to Washington is available only for attachment to baggage to be transported from New York to \Vashington. It cannot even be utilized on the return-trip, but must be returned asso much merchandise. The same is true of any direction given by the inscription on the checks-that is, the check is available for the special use indicated by the in scription, and for no other use. I

It is the object of my present invention to it shall insure equal protection and identification as the check above referred to, shall, in addition, have a general application or capacity for use upon articles of baggage, whether the same are to be transported in either direction or to any stations, distant or intermediate, along a route of travel, or are to be kept on deposit to be delivered to their owners upon certain terms or conditions named on the check.

The invention consists, in general terms, of improvements in methods, hereinafter fully described and claimed, of protecting baggage by the use of locking baggage-checks composed of two partsa locking mechanism and a check or direction part--constructed to be locked to each other and to articles of baggage in such manner that the marks and direc- Scrial No. 210,905. (No model.)

tions shall be in sight, and when unlocked the checks or direction parts can be readily re moved from the locking mechanism and others be substituted therefor; also, in the combina tion of an attaching-chain of special construction with a locking baggagecheck, as herein after described and claimed.

Means for carrying out my invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a perspective view of a locking baggage-check locked to a piece of baggage. Fig. 2 is a rear view ofthe same. Fig. 3 is an end View of the locking baggage-check with the locking-slide withdrawn, and showing the opening for inserting and removing the cheeks. Fig. 4 is the unlocking-key.

In the drawings, A represents a case inclosing a locking mechanism. Bis a receptacle or holder for the check, formed so that a check can be easily attached to and removed from the lock, and when attached to the lock for use its face, carrying the directions, will be in sight. The receptacle or holder may be conveniently formed by casting it in the same piece with the case A. Its back may consist of a single plate, 0, which will prevent the check from removal in that direction. The front or face side is provided with an opening to afford-a view of the face of the check carrying the desired directions. This opening is conveniently formed by casting a frame or border, I), raised up from the back plate, 0, preferably about the thickness of the check to be used, so that the check when in place will be between the back plate, 0, and the border D, which will cover and hold down the edges of the check, while its center will be exposed to view. One end of this receptacle is provided with an opening or slit, E, while the other end is closed,-so that the check can be inserted and removed only through the opening E. A chain, F, is securely attached by one of its ends to the lock-case, while its opposite or free end is provided with a locking-connection. 1

G is a slide constructed to be inserted into the end of the lock-case and to engage with the catch of the lock, and is thereby held in place till released by the use of thekey. A part, b,

of the outer end of the slide when locked in place overlaps the opening E and the end of the check, and thereby locks the check .in its receptacle or holder.

K is the unlocking-key.

It is important that a baggage-check, when attached for use, should be in such position that its directions can be read with as little inconvenience as possible. Itis accordingly desirable that the check, when attached to a trunk, should hang with its face outward and nearly parallel with the end of the trunk. This can be effected by making the chainF of links I, flattened at one of their ends, and the flattened ends arranged to point in the same direction from the opposite ends of the chain toward its middle part, where the flattened ends are attached to a ring, J. The chain made up of links constructed and arranged as above described and joined to the central ring will cause the check, when properly attached to the handle of a trunk, to normally take and retain the desired position. as a convenient meansby which the lock can be hung up when not in use;

H is a check or ticket of proper size and shape to be inserted and locked in the recep- I tacle or holder in such manner that it cannot be removed without unlocking.

The checks may be of any suitable material 1 as thin metal, thick paper, or card-boardupon which the desired directions can be cnbe written upon with a pen or pencilnvhereby any desired direction can readily be placed When used upon baggage? to be transported from one point to another, 5 the name or initials of the carrying company should preferably be printed on the checks,to show, in case of-loss of such baggage, the name j of the company undertaking its transporta upon the check.

tion.

follows: When it is desired to check a piece of baggage at one point to insure itssafe delivery at another, or to check baggage or other articles to effect any special disposition of the same, the desired directions are written or otherwise marked upon the face of the check,

which is placed in its receptacleor holder and locked to the lock and to the article of baggage, so that the check cannot be removed from the baggage without the use of the locku ofv or shall by some marks upon it be identified with the removable check locked to the lock and baggage, and this redeeming-check The ring J also serves 'would furnish the desired identification, and

in such case the key may or may not carry identifying=marks In practice, however, it is desirable that every key shall be identified with its lock to prevent confusion of keys and locks, and this may conveniently be done by conspicuously placing corresponding numbers on each, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawingsr This, in case the owner is also provided with a check corresponding or identified with the removable check secured to the lock, will furnish, in connection with. each check, twofold means of identification, or a double check, and would constitute an application in the same check of the invention of my said Patent No. 193,441, and my present invention, inasmuch as the lock itself, by reason of numbers or other marks permanently attached thereto and corresponding with those on the key, is a locking baggage-check, and at the same time, by reason of its capacity to receive supplemental checks or tickets which can be locked in place and removed by the use of the key as desired, and others with different directions be substituted, it is a locking baggage-check of universal application.

It is evident that if the identification is effected solely by corresponding marks permanently attached to the lock and to the key the removable check or ticket can be utilized solely for the purpose of carrying directions relating to the disposition of the baggage, or any desired instructions relating thereto.

I do not desire to limit my invention to any special construction of lock, nor to any special means of locking the removable check or ticket to the article of-baggage, the main and distin: guishing feature of my invention consisting in making the check or ticket separable from the look, so that an interchange or substitution of checks carrying different directions or instructions relating to the baggage can be' readily The practical application of my universal locking baggagc=check is briefly described as made, and at the same time the lock and the checkbe locked together and locked to the baggage, thus forming a locking baggage-check of universal application, affording all the protection and security of a check permanently attached to a look.

I am aware that it has heretofore been proposed to attach to a piece of baggage a direction card or label bearing the name and address of the owner of the baggage by means of a lock which, when locked, would at the same time secure such card or label in a connected frame; but such use of private labels or direction-cards is not analogous to the business of him to prove his ownership. The mere name and residence of the owner placed on a private label or card and attached by him to a piece of baggage is not an indication of the destination of such baggage which will govern the agents of the common carrier in whose custody it is temporarily placed, nor is such inscription an identifying-mark which a common carrier would adopt or recognize for the purpose of checking baggage placed in his charge. In no sense would it constitute a check as that term is understood in the business world.

I claim 1. The hereindescribed method of protect ing baggage, which consists in providing two checks or pieces identified with each other by corresponding numbers or marks, securing one of such checks, with said numbers or marks in view, to the baggage by a locking device which is capable of being unlocked only by its key, and which, when unlocked, simultaneously detaches the locking device from the baggage and releases the check from the locking device, giving the other check into the custody of the owner of the baggage, surrendering the baggage thus checked upon presentation of the check thus given the owner, and removing from the locking device the check contained therein, thus preparing the locking device to receive a different check and to serve upon a different route or destination, substantially as set forth.

2. The improvement herein described in methods of protecting baggage, which consists in attaching to the baggage, by means of a locking mechanism capable of being unlocked only by its key, a check permanently secured to such locking mechanism and carrying identifying-marks in sight, giving to the owner of the baggage marks corresponding therewith,

providing a direction-piece, locking the direc tion-piece to the locking mechanism simultaneously with the lockingof the latter to the baggage, the direction-piece being secured to the locking mechanism only so long as the latter is locked, but removable therefrom for the purpose of substituting a different directionpiece when the lock is unlocked.

3. In combination with a baggage locking check, a chain composed of links flattened at one of their ends, the flattened ends being arranged to point from the opposite ends of the chain toward its middle part, and a ring located near such middle part, to which the flattened ends of the adjacent links are attached, substantially as and for the purpose described.

HIPPOLITE A, DERAISMES.

Witnesses:

Roar. H. Duncan, J OHN J. TOWER, 

